Scarfing torch rod feeder



April 2, 1940. E. H. STREAM 2,195,944

SARFING TORCH ROD FEEDER Filed June 27, 1933 fg/x 3/ INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4Claims.

My invention relates to the art of welding-and includes among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved scarilng torch rod feed- 6 An object of my invention is to provide a scarfing torch rod feeder designed to effectively handie rods of different sizes, in which the rod feeding mechanism is so designed as to compensate structural irregularities in the rod, thus eliminating the necessity of making adjustments to attain proper feed delivery of the rod.

Another object is to provide a device of the type described which is so designed as to be readily attached to conventional blow torches.

A further object is to provide a rod feeder mcluding a positively driven feed wheel rotating about a stationary axis together with a companion feed wheel of the idler type rotating about a shiftable axis together with means for shifting n the companion feed wheel for accommodating rods of different diameters.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts u to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a scariing torch showing my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the invention with certain parts broken away for the sake of clearness;

Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

n Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 5-8 of Figure 4.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my 45 invention I make use of a scarilng torch I0', which is of conventional design and well-known in the art. Torch I0 includes the usual head I I and nozzle I2. The head I I is with the usual cutting oxygen tube I3 and the usual oxygen and mixture 50 tube assembly I4. Tubes I3 and I4 are connected with the valve body I5 which in turn is connected with the Oxy-acetylene equipment not shown. The handle I6 is mounted on the tubes I3 and I4 adjacent the valve body I5. The torch includes 55 the usual cutting valve lever assembly I1. Since the torch is well-known in the art, the construction need not be described in further detail.

In Figure 1 I illustrate the welding rod at I8 which passes through my feeder I9 for delivering the end of the rod into operating relation with 5 the nozzle I2. Rod I8 is supported in right-angular relation to the nozzle I2 and the feeder I9 is actuated through the medium of a trigger 2| arranged in close relation with the handle I6 so as to be accessible by the forefinger of the hand 10 grasping the handle the thumb of which hand manipulates the lever I1. It will thus be seen that my invention is so related to the torch as to permit torch and feeder operation with one hand.

Specifically the feeder I9 comprises a casing including side walls 22 and 23 and narrow side walls 24 and 25. The casing is rectangular in cross section and open at its ends. The upper end of the casing is closed by a body 26 having a 20 wall 21 recessed at 28 and 29 to receive the tubes I3 and I4, respectively. Body 25 is pressed into the casing and includes a flange 30 arranged to abut the upper ends of the walls 22, 23, 24, and 25. A clamp part 3i is associated with the.wall 25 21 and is recessed at 32 and 33 for embracing the tubes I3 and I4 oppositely of the recesses 28 and 29 in the wall. Clamp part 3l is brought into clamping relation with the tubes I3 and I4 through the medium of a screw 34 which passes 30 loosely through the clamped part l3| and is threaded into the wall 21. According to Figure 3 it will be noted that the clamp part 3| is spaced from the wall 21 so as to insure an effective clamping action on the tubes I3 and I4. My in- 35 vention may be adjusted along the tubes I3 and I4 to secure proper location after which the feeder is iixedly related to the tubes through mere tightening ofthe screw 34.

In Figure 4 I illustrate the walls 25 and 24 as 40 being provided with tubes 35 which have openings 36 for loosely receiving the welding rods I8 for driving purposes. Tubes 35 include Shanks 31 which are pressed through openings in the walls 25 and 24 and the Shanks riveted for draw- 15 ing the flanges 38 tightly against their respective walls and securing the tubes. The welding rod I8 passes between feed wheels 39 and 40. Wheel 39is positively rotated through the medium of the trigger 2| and rotates about a sta- 50 tionary axis, while feed wheel 40 is resiliently urged in the direction of the wheel 39 for establishing pressure relation between the Welding v rod I 8 and the two feed wheels. Figure 3 illustrates the wheel 39 as including a ratchet wheel 55 4|, which is xedly connected to the wheel 39. Wheel 39 includes trunnions 42 which are rotatably journaled in openings in bars 43 and 44 lying adjacent the wall's'22 and 23, respectively.

Bars 43 and 44 .are substantially coextensive in length with the walls 22 and 23 and are widened at their lower\ends, as at 45, and arranged in overlapping relation at 46 by reason of the rightangular reaches 41 and 48, which reaches are connected into a unitary structure by rivets 49. It will thus be seen that the reaches 41 and 48, particularly the reach 41, constitute a closure for the lower ends of the casing. Wheel 40 includ'es trunnions 5U which are rotatably journaled in a yoke 5|, comprising bars 52 and 53. Bars 43 and 44 are slotted at 54 to permit relative movement of. the trunnions 50 through shifting of the yoke 5|.

Bars 52 and 53 include overlapping right-angular reaches 55 which are connected into a unitary structure by a rivet 56. Reaches 55 are provided with a fitted opening for receiving the threaded end 51 at one end of a shaft 58. Shaft 58 is slidable through an opening 59 in a cross piece 60 interconnecting the bars 43 and 44. The interconnecting piece 60 is flanged at 6| and the flanges are secured to the said 43 and 44 by rivet 62. The upper end of the shaft 58 is threaded at 63 for connection with' a nut 64 between which ends the interconnecting piece 66 are interposed a compression spring 65. The bars 52 and 53 of the yoke 5| is slotted at 66 to accommodate the trunnions 42, thus permitting relative movement between the yokes and the trunnions. It will thus be seen that the yoke 5| which carries the idler feed wheel 40 is shiftable longitudinally of the straps 43 and 44 and that the tension of the spring 65 is therefore effective on the idler wheel 40 for establishing pressure relation between the welding-rod |8 and the feed wheels 39 and 40. Rotation of the feed wheel 39 will shift the welding rod I8.

To the lateral extension 66 of the bar 44 pivotally connect the lever 61 as at 68. The dog 69 otally connects the lever 61 as at 68. The dog 69 is pivotally connected at 10 with the lever 61 and has its hook 1| arranged in operative relation with the ratchet 4| (see Fig. 2). The pivotal axis 10, of the dog 69, is located intermediate the ends of the dog. To the end opposite the hook 1| I connect one end of the tension spring 12, the other end of which is connected with a pin 13 anchored to the lever 61. The tension spring 14 has one end connected with the pin 13 and its opposite end connected with a bracket 15 comprising an extension of th'e bar 44. Wall 25 is slotted at 16 for accommodating a link 11 pivotally connected at 18 with the lever 61. The trigger 2| comprises a wire 18 connected with the link 11 as at 80.

Bar 44 includes an extension 8| having an abutment 82 arranged in the path of the lever 61. In operation a pull on the trigger 2| imparts pivotal movement to the lever 61 as illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2. Thus movement of the lever imparts rotation to the wheel 39 which rotation moves the welding rod 20 into proper position'with the nozzle I2. Abutment 82 constitutes a stop for the lever 61 to limit the rotary movement of the wheel 39. Shifting the lever 61 into abutting relation with the abutment 82 rotates the wheel 39 sufliciently far to bring the hook 1| of the dog 69 into holding relation with the next tooth of the ratchet. The outer end of thehook 1| is curved to have camming relation with the teeth of the ratchet. Spring 12 yields to accommodate such camming action but operates to hold the hook 1| in effective connected relation with successive teeth on the ratchet. Spring 14 yieldably holds the lever 61 in the normal full-line position of Figure 2 but the spring yields easily in response to a finger pull on the trigger 2 My feeder operates in an ecient manner to handle rods of different sizes. The feed pressure relation between the wheels 39 and 4D may be varied through mere adjustment of the nut 64. Surface irregularities or deformations in the Welding rod are compensated because of the resilient mounting of the yokes 5|. One pull on the trigger 2| consummates delivery of the welding rod |8 of predetermined distance which distance is equal in all cases because of the abutting .relation between the lever 61 and the abut- 1. In a scarf'lng torch, a welding rod feeder.

mechanism comprising spaced side members, a yoke slidably disposed between said side members, a wheel keyed to a shaft rotatably journaled in said yoke with the shaft having its ends extending into slots in said side members, a second Wheel keyed to a shaft rotatably journaled in said side members, with said yoke slotted for the reception of said last-named shaft, a bracket relatively fixed to at least one of said side members, resilient means cooperable with said bracket and said yoke for yieldingly drawing said rst wheel toward the other wheel, said two wheels being arranged to receive a welding rod therebetween for feeding the rod through rotation of the wheels, means for varying the strength of said resilient means, a ratchet wheel xedly related to said second-named wheel, a pawl operatively related to said ratchet wheel and pivotally connected with a lever having one end pivotally connected with one of said side members, spring means operatively connecting the pawl with said lever and the lever with a fixed support for holding the pawl and the lever in normal positions, an actuating element connected with the other end of said lever for pivoting the same to effect actuation of the pawl and rotation of said second-named wheel, and a housing enclosing the welding rod feeder mechanism detachably connected with said side members.

2. In a scarng torch, a welding rod feeder mechanism comprising spaced side members, a yoke slidably disposed between said side members, a wheel keyed to a shaft rotatably journaled in said yoke with the shaft having its ends extending into slots in said side members, a second wheel keyed to a shaft rotatably journaled in said side members, with said yoke slotted for the reception of said last-named shaft, resilient means acting on said yoke for yieldingly drawing said two wheels together. said two wheels being arranged to receive a welding rod therebetween for feeding the rod through rotation of said second wheel, a ratchet wheel keyed on said last-named shaft, a pawl operatively related to said ratchet wheel and pivotally connected with a lever having one end pivotally connected with one of said side members, spring means operatively connecting the pawl with said lever and the lever with a fixed support for holding the pawl and the lever in normal positions, and an actuating element connected with the other end of said lever for pivoting the'same to effect actuation of the pawl and rotation of the wheels.

3. In a scarring torch, a welding rod feeder mechanism comprising spaced side members, a yoke slidably disposed between said side members, a wheel keyed to a shaft rotatably journaled in said yoke with the shaft having its ends extending into slots in said side members, a second wheel keyed to a shaft rotatably journaled in said side members, with said yoke slotted for the reception of said last-named shaft, resilient means acting on said yoke for yieldingly drawing said two wheels together, said two wheels being arranged to receive a welding rod therebetween for feeding the rod through rotation of said second wheel, a ratchet Wheel keyed on said lastnamed shaft, 'a pawl operatively related to said ratchet wheel and pivotally connected with a lever having one end pivotally connected with one of said side members, spring means operatively connecting the pawl with said lever and the lever with a xed support for holding the pawl and the lever in normal positions, an actuating ele- -ment connected with the other end of said lever forpivoting the same to effect actuation of the pawl and rotation of the wheels, said side members including a rectangularly shaped connecting means at one end, an open ended housing for enclosing the feeder mechanism, with said rectangularly shaped connecting member constituting an end wall for the housing, a closure body for theotherendofthehwsinmandmeamcarried by the closure body for connection with a scarfing torch.

1 4. In a Ascarflng torch, a welding rod feeder mechanism comprising spaced side members, a yoke slidably disposed between said side members, a wheel keyed to a shaft rotatably journaled in said yoke with the shaft having its ends extending into slots in said side members, a second wheel keyed to a shaft rotatably journaled in said side members, with said yoke slotted for the reception of said last-named shaft, resilient means acting on said'yoke for yieldingly drawing said two wheels together, said two wheels being arranged to receive a welding rod therebetween for feeding the rod through rotation of said second wheel, a ratchet wheel keyed on said last-named shaft, a pawl operatively related to said ratchet wheel and pivotally connected with a lever having one end pivotally connected with one of said side members, spring means operatively connecting the pawl with said lever and the lever with a fixed support for holding the pawl and the lever in normal positions, an actuating element connected with the other end of said lever for pivoting the same to effect actuation of the pawl and rotation of the wheels, said side members including a rectangularly shaped connecting means at one end, an open ended housing for enclosing the feeder mechanism, with 'mwaann s'mnAM. 

